Game counter



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J D WARD GAME COUNTER.

(No Model.)

No. 439,450. Patented Oct. 28, 1890.

A1). 116; 71 5? 8,5198) 3 22 Wen/Z77 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH D. IVARD, OF ZYLONITE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNITED ZYLONITE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

GAME-COUNTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,450, dated October 28, 1890.

Application filed July 9, 1890- Serial No. 358,207. (No model.)

To all whmn it 71mg concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH D. I/VARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Zylonite, in the county of Berkshire and Slate of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Card-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a novel card-box of zylonite or other pyroxyline compound in which the box-body and the box-lid are each provided with rotary indicating or counter disks adapted to be operated by their exposed edges and so journaled as to avoid marring the exterior surfaces of the polished pyroxyline material.

To accomplish this object my invention consists in the features of construction, the combination or arrangement of devices, and the principles of operation, hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved card -box and counter. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the box-body and the box-lid separated and in position for use as independent counters. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the axial line of one of the indicating-disks of the box body and lid. Fig.4 is a detail perspective view of one of the internal diaphragms, showing a pair of indicating-disks thereupon.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now describe the same in detail, referring to the drawings, where the numeral 1 indicates the box-body, and 2 the box-lid having a surrounding pendent flange 3, adapted to slide upon the surrounding smooth rim 4 of the box-body, whereby the lid can be readily removed and replaced at will without the detachment of hinges or other fastening devices. The wallb of the box-body is composed of a single piece of zylonite or other pyroxyline compound, and the box-corners 5 are rounded. The said wall 6, polished and finished, is cemented or otherwise rigidly secured in place and provided with a pair of sight-openings 7 for inspecting the numerals or other indicating-characters on the rotary disks 8, and likewise the wall 9 of the box-lid 2 is composed of a polished or finished sheet of Zylonite or other pyroxyline compound, having a pair of sight-openings 10 for inspecting the numerals or other characters on the rotary disks l2.

The walls 6 and 9 are of tine quality, and if in imitation of natural ivory or if colored and polished it is desirable to avoid marring the handsome and nice appearance of the exposed surfaces, and to this end I place a dia phragm 13 in the box-body and a similar diaphragm 14 in the box-lid. These diaphragms are composed of sheets of zylonite or other pyroxyline material shaped to conform and coextensive with the interior of the body and lid, and such diaphragms are cemented or otherwise secured at their edges in fixed positions, so that they will not readily become loose or detached. The diaphragms are arranged parallel with and in such proximity to the inner surfaces of the walls 6 and 9 as to provide intervening spaces or chambers, in which the indicating-disks are so placed that portions of their peripheries project slightly from the sides of the box body and lid. For this purpose the sides of the body and lid are provided with notches or recesses 15 of a depth sufficient to permit the disks to be turned on their pivot-pins 16, while the walls 6 and 9 bear squarely against the edges of the sides of the body and lid.

The pivot-pins 16 are fixed in apertures in and are solely supported by the diaphragms, whereby I avoid exposure of the pivot-pins at or on the external surfaces of the box body and lid, in consequence of which the beauty of the zylonite or pyroxyline sheets is not marred or impaired, and a handsome and attractive card-box and counter is the result. The relation of the pivot-pins to the box-corners is such that a portion of the periphery of each disk projects from the side and also from the end of the box, and therefore the disks can be rotated by moving a finger or thumb along the sides or ends of the box. The disks are each supplied with the required numerals or other signs or characters, which are successively exposed through a sightopening, and the disks of the box-lid can be utilized for scoring points and games, and

likewise the disks of the bOX-bOdYcan be employed for the same purpose. This is very desirable in many card games, such as whist and euchre. The lid by being readily removed can be set on a table with the sight-openings uppermost, and the box-body can be inverted and set with its sight-openings uppermost, as indicated in Fig. 2. The diaphragms are also useful in a box of the character described in that they strengthen the zylonite or pyroxyline structure.

The internal capacity of the box is preferably such as to snugly hold a deck of playingcards; but, if desired, the depth of the box can be increased to contain two decks, as this may be desired for playing whist.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- Acard-box and counter consisting of the separable box-body and the lid, each-having no a Wall provided with a pair of sight-openings,

the two diaphragms coextensive with and 10- In testimony whereof I have aflixed my sigo nature in presence of two-witnesses.

JOSEPH D. WARD.

Witnesses:

F. J. SHERIDAN, FREDERICK J. JONES. 

